Schools champion bedtime reading

A Northumberland first school has been praised for its efforts in promoting the importance of bedtime reading to parents and children.

Seaton Deleval First School has taken part in the ‘53 books at bedtime’ challenge, a Northumberland initiative in response to a national literacy drive, which was launched this year by the education secretary Nicky Morgan and children’s author David Walliams.

Each day since the beginning of November, children throughout Northumberland have been given a book to take home to read at bedtime with their parents.

As a result of the challenge, Seaton Delaval First School found that more than ten parents had started reading to their children for the first time.

The last story of the challenge will be held on Christmas Eve and some nurseries will be giving books to families to continue bedtime reading.

Headter Oliver Flitcroft said: “Our school has a strong belief that reading and literacy is fundamental to children’s learning. We know that this is an area that is difficult to catch up on later in life and the best place to start is at home.

“Young children love stories at school and we ensure that there is a wide variety of age appropriate books throughout the school - reading books, guided reading books, library books and books read to pupils by staff.

“Parents are reading a story at bedtime and then letting the teacher know what they read. We firmly believe that working with our parents in the early years is just as important as the children.”